"Sweet Home Chicago" performed at the White House with Barack Obama joining B.B. King on the chorus
Blues standards are blues songs that have attained a high level of recognition due to having been widely performed and recorded.[1] They represent the best known and most interpreted blues songs that are seen as standing the test of time.[2] Blues standards come from different eras and styles, such as ragtime-vaudeville, Delta and other early acoustic styles, and urban blues from Chicago and the West Coast.[3]
Many blues songs were developed in American folk music traditions and individual songwriters are sometimes unidentified.[1] Blues historian Gerard Herzhaft noted:
In the case of very old blues songs, there is the constant recourse to oral tradition that conveyed the tune and even the song itself while at the same time evolving for several decades. This was long before the first recording. The fact that such blues are attributed to Charlie Patton, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Blind Blake often means that they were the first to record them.[1]
Compounding the problem is that, in the earlier days, many blues songs were not copyrighted.[1] Later, the rights were claimed by those who recorded a subsequent version or were managers or record company owners.[1][a]
Nearly one half of the blues standards listed were first recorded in the pre-World War II acoustic blues era, before music publications tracked the sales of blues records.[7] Many popular renditions, as reflected in the record charts, are more modern versions featuring electric instruments. For example, Robert Johnson and Tampa Red, who were the first to record the most blues standards on the list at four each, performed them as solo or duo acoustic performances. B.B. King and Muddy Waters, with the most standards on the charts at five each,[8] used electric blues-ensemble arrangements.
Music journalist Richie Unterberger commented on the adaptability of blues: "From its inception, the blues has always responded to developments in popular music as a whole: the use of guitar and piano in American folk and gospel, the percussive rhythms of jazz, the lyrics of Tin Pan Alley, and the widespread use of amplification and electric instruments all helped shape the evolution of the blues."[9] Blues standards that appeared on the main charts[b] in the 1960s and 1970s often had been recorded by rhythm and blues, soul, and rock musicians.[10] Each song listed has been identified by five or more music writers as a blues standard. Spellings and titles may differ; the most common are used.
^For example, "Crosscut Saw" is usually attributed to Tommy McClennan, whose 1941 recording was the first to be released (Tony Hollins, who recorded a version three months earlier that was unissued until 1992, has also been mentioned).[4] In 1964, R. G. Ford, a Memphis, Tennessee, attorney, filed for the copyright in his own name after a group he represented recorded the tune.[5] Ford is listed as the songwriter on records by Albert King (who popularized the song in 1967) and most subsequent releases. Some commentators, who may be unfamiliar with the song's origins, have referred to "Crosscut Saw" as "the R. G. Ford song".[6]
^A "test disc" of "Walking Blues", recorded by Son House for Paramount Records in 1930, was not discovered until 1989:[62] "[Robert] Johnson must have learned the lyrics from House's live performances... Johnson straightened out House's somewhat idiosyncratic musical accompaniment, and in the process created a song that would, by and by, become a blues standard."[63]
References
^ a b c d eHerzhaft 1992, p. 435.
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 73.
^Herzhaft 1992, pp. 436, 440, 442.
^O'Neal & van Singel 2002, p. 208
^Olsson 1970, p. 112
^Pendragon, Jana. "Corey Stevens & Texas Flood: Blue Drops of Rain – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
^Whitburn 1988, p. 14.
^Whitburn 1988, pp. 239, 435.
^Unterberger 1996, p. 381.
^Whitburn 1988, pp. 59, 60, 101, 158, 295, 391, 453; "Them – Singles". Official Charts. Retrieved February 21, 2023.; "Cream: Chart history – Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2023; Russo & Hinman 2001, p. 45; "Rolling Stones – Singles". Official Charts. Retrieved February 21, 2023.; Russo 1994, p. 21; Billboard 1969, p. 96; Billboard 1966, p. 24
^Alexander 2003, p. 63; Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Booker 2022, p. 107; Erlewine 2003, p. 71; Hal Leonard 2013, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 436; Oliver 1968, p. 16; Simmons n.d., Review; Sullivan 2017, p. 198; Talevski 2010, p. 728; Whitburn 1988, p. 465; "H20 featuring Billie – Singles". Official Charts. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
^Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 436; Huxley 1995, eBook; McHugh 2003, p. 272; Obrecht 2000, p. 9; Sammon 2015, eBook
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Bienstock 2020, p. 176; Eagle & LeBlanc 2013, p. 111; Erlewine 2003, p. 712; Guralnick 1982, p. 1965; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 437; Komara 2005, p. 39; Milward 2013, p. 64; Perone 2019, p. 176; Simmons n.d., Review; Whitburn 1988, p. 469; Whitburn 2008, p. 438; "Them – Singles". Official Charts. Retrieved February 21, 2023.; Walker 2011, p. 148
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; BSN 1999, p. 28; Boyd 2012, eBook; Cummings-Yeates 2014, eBook; Friedland 2004, p. 80; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 437; Sing Out 1993, p. 81; Whitburn 1988, p. 469
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 440; McMullen, Steve. "Steve Hackett: Blues With a Feeling – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 11, 2018.; Sokolow 2014, eBook; Whitburn 1988, p. 472
^Amicone 2001, p. YE-29; Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Blues Revue 2005, p. 82; Edmondson 2013, p. 564; Morris 2001, p. 70; Wise 2010, eBook; Whitburn 1988, p. 473; Billboard 1964, p. 26
^Cadence 1992, p. 100; Evans & Kingsbury 2009, p. 210; Gee 2013, p. 194, fn 1; Hal Leonard 2005, Song list; Hildebrand 1994, p. 13; Jet 1993, p. 649; Kemp 2004, p. 40; Kingwell 2020, eBook; Klein 2001, p. 48; Life 2009, eBook; Murray 1991, p. 141; Perone 2019, p. 22; Santelli 2001, p. 107; Shapiro 1992, p. 89; Stang 1998, p. 4; Swenson 1999, p. 649; Whiteley 2003, p. 10; Yamin 2018, p. 172; Whitburn 1988, p. 473; "RPM 100". RPM. Vol. 12, no. 15. November 29, 1969. p. 7. ISSN 0315-5994.
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Hal Leonard 2005, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 441; Leggett, Steve. "Various Artists: Blues Story [Shout! Factory] – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 27, 2018.; Marcus 2011, p. 65; Whitburn 1988, p. 474
^Bokelman & Evans 2022, eBook fn 14; BSN 1999, p. 28; Cotner 2001, p. 201; Cummings-Yeates 2014, eBook; Danchin 2001, p. 275; Herzhaft 1992, p. 441; Moseley 1996, p. 83; Moskowitz 2010, p. 114; Simmons n.d., Review; Southern 1997, p. 509; Whitburn 1988, p. 553
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Goldberg 1969, p. 32; Grazian 2003, p. 4; Herzhaft 1992, p. 443; Komara 2005, p. 568; Murray 1991, p. 141; Simmons n.d., Review; Whitburn 1988, p. 479
^Barnet, Nemerov & Taylor 2004, p. 99; Conforth & Wardlow 2019, p. 265; Erlewine 2003, p. 64; George-Warren & Pareles 1995, p. 1936; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 443; Manheim 2019, p. 56; Mark & Vaughan 2004, p. 239; Noad 2002, p. 125; Pellegrino 2012, p. 73; Santelli 2001, p. 107; Scott 2015, eBook; Swenson 1999, p. 574; Verna 1995, p. 152; "Cream: Chart history – The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
^Cadence 1977, p. 22; Encyclopaedia Universalis 2019, eBook; Guralnick 1982, p. 66; Herzhaft 1992, p. 445; Larkin 2013, p. 334
^Evans 2005, p. 104; Evans & Kingsbury 2009, p. 210; Farley 2011, p. 137; Herzhaft 1992, p. 445; Life 2009, eBook; Perone 2019, p. 33; Whitburn 1988, p. 485
^Barnet, Nemerov & Taylor 2004, p. 99; Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; BSN 2002, p. 40; Conforth & Wardlow 2019, p. 265; George-Warren & Pareles 1995, p. 1936; Komara 2005, p. 21; Grazian 2003, p. 214; Herzhaft 1992, p. 446; Living Blues 2008, p. 56; Manheim 2019, p. 56; Milward 2013, p. xiii; Mark & Vaughan 2004, p. 239; Palmer 1981, p. 128; Pegg 2013, p. 164; Scott 2015, eBook; Segrest & Hoffman 2004, p. 241; Simmons n.d., Review; Southern 1997, p. 509; Talevski 2010, p. 719; Unterberger & Hicks 1999, p. 196; Yamin 2018, p. 172; Whitburn 1988, p. 485
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Buffett 1998, p. 10; Driggs & Haddix 2006, p. 224; Grazian 2003, p. 159; Hal Leonard 2005, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 447; Mansfield 1998, p. 116; Rothwell 2001, p. 158; Southern 1997, p. 509; Yamin 2018, p. 172; Whitburn 1988, p. 487
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Big City Blues 1999, p. 55; Erlewine 2001, p. 218; Hal Leonard 2005, Song list; Oklahoma Today 1999, p. 48; Whitburn 1988, p. 488
^Blues Foundation 2011; Erlewine 2003, p. 64; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 448; Komara 2005, pp. 1014–1015; Larkin 2013, p. lx; Murray 2013, p. 236; Santelli 2001, p. 61; Steinberg 2012, p. XIII; Wyman & Havers 2001, p. 300; Whitburn 1988, p. 489
^Evans 1982, p. 340; Herzhaft 1992, p. 448; Living Blues 1983, p. 12; Rogers 2022, p. 107; Segrest & Hoffman 2004, eBook; Southern 1997, p. 509; Szatmary 2000, p. 183
^Blues Foundation 2002; Glover, Dirks & Gaines 2002, eBook; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 449; JAF 1973, p. 423; Komara 2005, p. 732; Rees & Crampton 1999, p. 105; Simmons n.d., Review; Sullivan 2017, p. 170; Weissman 2005, p. 155; Whitburn 1988, p. 494
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Erlewine 2002, p. 482; Evans 2005, p. 197; Field 2000, p. 166; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 449; Komara 2005, p. 670; Living Blues 2005, p. 67; Milward 2013, eBook; Palmer 1981, p. 145; Perone 2019, p. 178; Skinner Sawyers 1991, p. 295; Sullivan 2017, p. 132; Whitburn 1988, p. 523
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Cadence 1998, p. 22; Ford 1979, p. 63; GPI 2007, p. 7; Hawkins 2016, p. 248; Herzhaft 1992, p. 449; Living Blues 2008, p. 61; Marks & McIntyre 2010, p. 278; O'Neal 1984; Southern 1997, p. 509; Whiteis 2019, eBook; Yamin 2018, p. 172; Whitburn 1988, p. 495
^George-Warren & Pareles 1995, p. 1959; Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 450; Living Blues 1991, p. 52; Michelsen & Tygstrup 2015, p. 187; Szatmary 2000, p. 183; Unterberger & Hicks 1999, p. 249; Whitburn 1988, p. 498
^Corcoran 2017, p. 106; DeCurtis, Henke & George-Warren 1992, p. 398; Emerson 2004, p. 39; Erlewine 2003, p. 304; Herzhaft 1992, p. 451; Smith 2013, p. 46; Sokolow 1998, eB; Swenson 1999, p. 67; Whitburn 1988, p. 499; Whitburn 2008, p. 451
^Archard 2005, p. 10; Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Chambers 2005, p. 286, fn 8; Dann 2019, p. 11; Erlewine 2003, p. 214; Hal Leonard 2005, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 452; Milward 2013, p. 14; Southern 1997, p. 509; Talevski 2010, pp. 134–135; Tolinski & di Perna 2016, eBook; Urban & Evdokimov 2004, p. 160; Wise 2011, eBook; Whitburn 1988, p. 511
^Burrows 2020, eBook; Danchin 2005, p. 62; Elledge 2018, eBook; Hal Leonard 2005, Song list; Hardy & Laing 1995, p. 150; Herzhaft 1992, p. 453; Hoffmann 2005, p. 62; Living Blues 2005, p. 67; Southern 1997, p. 509; Talevski 2010, p. 72; Tracy 2015, p. 119; Weissman 2005, p. 36; Williamson 2007b, p. 100;Wirt 2014, p. 12; Wyman & Havers 2001, p. 162
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Erlewine 2001, p. 520; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; McHugh 2003, p. 272; Herzhaft 1992, p. 453; Hoffmann 2005, p. 62; McParland 2019, p. 31; Schinder & Schwartz 2008, p. 385; Sokolow 1998, eBook; Spitz 2021, p. 31; Williamson 2007a, p. 43; Whitburn 1988, p. 502
^Charlesworth & Hanel 2010, eBook; Clapton 2007, p. 49; Ford 1979, p. 63; Gregory 2019, eBook, fn 15; Grazian 2003, p. 54; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Hall, Grindstaff & Lo 2010, eBook; Herzhaft 1992, p. 454; Living Blues 1987, p. 19; Marshall 2008, p. 10; McIntyre 2006, p. 55; Millard 2004, p. 153; Murphy 2008, p. 72; Shapiro, Heatley & Mayer 2009, p. 53; Wheatley 2013, eBook; Whitburn 1988, pp. 509, 529; Russo & Hinman 2001, p. 45
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Bienstock 2020, p. 176; Dann 2019, p. 11; Erlewine 2003, p. 421; Grazian 2003, p. 159; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 454; Hoffmann 2005, p. 62; Whitburn 1988, p. 511
^AHS 1977, p. 103; Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; BSN 2002, p. 40; Encyclopaedia Universalis 2019, eBook; Guralnick 1982, p. 1905; Hal Leonard 2005, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 455; JAF 1978, p. 742; Larkin 2013, p. 1932; Obrecht 2000, p. 4; Scott 2015, eBook; Simmons n.d., Review; Whitburn 1988, p. 515
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Brown 2009, eBook; Buffett 1998, p. 10; Goldberg 1969, p. 32; Hal Leonard 2013, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 456; Living Blues 2005, p. 67; Marsh 1999, p. 125; Weissman 2005, p. 103; Whitburn 1988, p. 518; "Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 71, no. 20. May 18, 1959. p. 41. ISSN 0006-2510.; "Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 76, no. 1. January 4, 1964. p. 18. ISSN 0006-2510.
^Blues Foundation 2010; Blues Revue 2005, p. 88; Erlewine 2003, p. 214; Glover, Dirks & Gaines 2002, p. 184; Hal Leonard 2013, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 457; Komara 2005, p. 563; Living Blues 1991, p. 78; Simmons n.d., Review; Weissman 2005, p. 29; Whitburn 1988, p. 519
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Devi 2012, p. xv; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 457; Komara 2005, p. 472; Moskowitz 2010, p. 112; Perone 2019, p. 22; Shapiro, Heatley & Mayer 2009, p. 53; Sokolow 1998, eBook; Talevski 1998, p. 180
^Brackett 2004, p. 836; Erlewine 2001, p. 520; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 467; Hoffmann 2005, p. 62; Komara 2005, p. 21; Marshall 2008, p. 10; Perone 2019, p. 41; Rees & Crampton 1999; Talevski 2010, pp. 134–135; Whitburn 1988, p. 523; "Rolling Stones – Singles". Official Charts. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Glover, Dirks & Gaines 2002, eBook; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 461; Komara 2005, pp. 1014–1015; Living Blues 2008, p. 56; Pegg 2013, p. 164; Sokolow 1998, eBook; Whitburn 1988, p. 529
^AHA 1994, p. 85; BM 1982; Erlewine 2003, p. 421; Hal Leonard 2005, Song list; Hay 2005, p. 75; Herzhaft 1992, p. 463; Talevski 2010, pp. 134–135; Whitburn 1988, p. 532; Whitburn 2008, p. 466
^Clark Hine 2005, p. 150; Hal Leonard 2005, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 464; Hischak 2002, p. 267; Hjort 2007, p. 314; Luhrssen & Larson 2017, p. 93; Morris 2003, p. 5; Perone 2021, p. 139; Rodriguez 2010, p. 164; Sandage 2009, p. 268; Whitburn 1988, p. 535
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Collis 1998, p. 153; Farley 2011, p. 127; George-Warren & Pareles 1995, p. 1867; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Hardy & Laing 1995, p. 345; Herzhaft 1992, p. 467; Larkin 2013, p. 1825; Living Blues 2008, p. 56; O'Neal 1993; Whitburn 1988, p. 543
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Doggett 2012, eBook; George-Warren & Pareles 1995, p. 1967; Hjort 2007, p. 212; Hal Leonard 2005, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, pp. 467–468; Komara 2005, p. 21; Living Blues 2008, p. 56; Murray 1991, p. 145; Obrecht 2018, p. 98; Palmer 1981, p. 206; Whitburn 1988, p. 544
^Brackett 2004, p. 58; Dann 2019, p. 11; Eagle & LeBlanc 2013, p. 240; Erlewine 2001, p. 531; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 468; Komara 2005, p. 722; Obrecht 2018, p. 117; Palmer 1981, p. 128; Santelli 2001, p. 107; Simmons n.d., Review; Southern 1997, p. 509; Szatmary 2000, p. 183; Russo 1994, p. 21; Williamson 2007b, p. 30; Billboard 1969, p. 96
^BSN 2002, p. 40; Danchin 2005, p. 62; Edmondson 2013, p. 938; George-Warren & Pareles 1995, p. 1959; Hal Leonard 2013, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 469; Hoffmann 2005, p. 280; Komara 2005, p. 190; Luhrssen & Larson 2017, p. 333; Marsh 1999, p. 168; Perone 2019, p. 130; Santelli 2001, p. 522; Talevski 1998, p. 62; Wyman & Havers 2001, p. 290; Whitburn 1988, pp. 474, 546; Billboard 1966, p. 24
^Friedwald 2010, p. 786; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 470; Kemp 2004, p. 40; Oliver 2001, pp. 186–187; Palmer 1981, p. 110; Scott 2015, eBook; Shapiro 1992, p. 89; Simmons n.d., Review; Whiteley 2003, p. 30; Whiteis 2013, p. 86
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 471; McKittrick 2020, eBook; Perone 2019, pp. 81–82; Primo 1977, p. 45; Talevski 1998, p. 191; Wynne 2007, p. 140; Whitburn 1988, p. 549
^Archard 2005, p. 10; Brackett 2004, p. 836; Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Blues Revue 2005, p. 88; Bukszpan 2019, p. 148; Erlewine 2001, p. 520; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, pp. 471–472; Perone 2019, p. 41; Santelli 2001, p. 107; Whitburn 1988, p. 552
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Buffett 1998, p. 10; Evans 2005, p. 104; Ford 1979, p. 63; Gussow 2007, p. 95; Hal Leonard 2013, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, pp. 472–473; Murray 1991, p. 145; Southern 1997, p. 509; Stang 1998, p. 2; Talevski 2010, p. 390; Yamin 2018, p. 172; Whitburn 1988, pp. 474, 554
^Encyclopaedia Universalis 2019, eBook; Evans 1982, p. 197; Garon 2003, p. 87; Herzhaft 1992, p. 473; Perone 2019, p. 179; Field 2000, p. 166; Moseley 1996, p. 83; Simmons n.d., Review; Skinner Sawyers 1991, p. 295
^Barnet, Nemerov & Taylor 2004, p. 99; Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; BSN 2002, p. 40; Conforth & Wardlow 2019, p. 265; Danchin 2001, p. 272; Devi 2012, p. 141; Erlewine 2003, p. 64; George-Warren & Pareles 1995, p. 1936; Grazian 2003, p. 151; Hal Leonard 2005, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 473; Manheim 2019, p. 56; Mark & Vaughan 2004, p. 239; Milward 2013, p. xiii; New York 2000, p. 74; Scott 2015, eBook; Yamin 2018, p. 172; Whitburn 1988, p. 556
^AHS 1977, p. 103; Barlow 1983, p. 326; Doggett 2012, eBook; Encyclopaedia Universalis 2019, eBook; Guralnick 1982, p. 1905; Herzhaft 1992, p. 473; Larkin 2013, p. 334; Living Blues 1996, p. 92; Obrecht 2000, p. 4; Simmons n.d., Review; Whitburn 1988, p. 556
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Blues Foundation 2016; Darwen 1989, p. 1; Malvinni 2013, p. 8; Nadel 1988, p. 166; Palmer 1981, p. 181; Perone 2019, p. 84
^Arnett Ervin 1999, p. 184; Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; BSN 1999, p. 28; Eagle & LeBlanc 2013, p. 98; George-Warren & Pareles 1995, p. 1989; Herzhaft 1992, pp. 474–475; JAF 1973, p. 423; Malvinni 2013, p. 8; Perone 2019, p. 57; Rothwell 2001, p. 110; Sokolow 1998, eBook; Tracy 1999, p. 449; Whitburn 1988, p. 560
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Big City Blues 2001, p. 48; Finkelman 2009, p. 96; Gussow 2007, p. 95; Herzhaft 1992, p. 475; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; New York 2000, p. 74; Whiteis 2019, eBook; Wiley 1993, p. 275; Wynne 2009, p. 96; Whitburn 1988, p. 561
^Driggs & Haddix 2006, p. 220; Friedwald 2010, p. 669; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 476; Morris 2003, p. 5; Oliver 2001, p. 205; Perone 2019, p. 56; Riesman 2011, p. 212; Simmons n.d., Review; Weissman 2005, p. 221; Whitburn 1988, p. 563
^Beaumont 2011, pp. 70–72.
^Beaumont 2011, p. 91.
^Barrett & Garcia 2010, p. 74; Beaumont 2011, p. 91; Hal Leonard 1996, Song list; Herzhaft 1992, p. 477; Manheim 2019, p. 56; Parrish 2001, p. 13; Tamarkin 2003, p. 275; UC Davis 2006, p. 766; Williamson 2007b, p. 137; Whitburn 1988, p. 504
^AHS 1977, p. 103; BSN 2002, p. 40; Charone 2022, eBook; Erlewine 2003, p. 398; Guralnick 1982, p. 1906; Komara 2005, p. 305; Oliver 1964, p. 29; Riesman 2011, p. 142; Rothwell 2001, p. 89; Simmons n.d., Review; Whitburn 1988, pp. 560, 573
^Blues Unlimited 1988, p. 40;Corcoran 2017, p. 106; Guralnick 1982, p. 66; Herzhaft 1992, p. 459; Larkin 2013, p. 1932; JAF 1978, p. 742; Obrecht 2000, p. 4; Spitz 1991, eBook; "Freddy King: Chart History – Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
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